Good mic with minijack for an FX1

rawfa

rawfa

Veteran
Hi Guys,

I'm looking into a good/afordable mic for my FX1. I don't want to buy a beachtek, so I guess I'll have to go with one that has a minijack to connect directly to the FX1 input. I was going to buy the Rode Videomic, but I read some people say it picks up noise from the camera and I can't have that. Any suggestions without having to spend a fortune?
 
For minijack options your only solutions are the Audio Technica AT-55, Sennheisers camera mounted mic, and the Rode Video Mic.

The AT55 will allow you to boom, whereas the others are more for camera mounted situations.

In sound quality I would say AT55, Sennheiser, Rode (lowest to highest)

Price: AT55, Rode, Sennheiser (lowest to highest)

Durability: Sennheiser, Rode, AT (lowest to highest)

Versitility: Rode & Sennheiser (tie), AT55 (lowest to highest)

What would I buy? Beachtek. I wouldn't mess with any of these that you have mentioned.

For an FX1, if you need a mini jack just buy any microphone that can be operated via battery and then go to radio shack and get an XLR to 1/4" adapter and then get a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. There are plenty of microphone threads about what you should buy. This keeps you from looking at phantom powered units or having to get a beachtek.

Good luck

-Jeremy
 
Dont waste your cash on a minijack mic. It screams amateur in every single way, for gosh sake man, you have a decent camera - get a mic that the camera isnt embarrassed to be seen with.
 
timapter said:
Dont waste your cash on a minijack mic. It screams amateur in every single way, for gods sake man, you have an FX1 - get a mic that the camera isnt embarrassed to be seen with.
Click to expand...


sure...I'll just sell my left kidney...why do I need 2 anyway? ;-)
 
ha ha! sorry, I know its tough. Seriously though, Yankee had a really good point: the xlr to 1/4 cable with an 1/8th adaptor is actually a good way to go. Check my TOP 5 SHOTGUNS post, and go with any of those mics - even the cheapest one is still a decent mic... Damn this whole money thing. its getting me down too. I want Lectrosonics, but I might actually to sell both kidneys and enjoy the system before I die (around 5 minutes).

Good luck..
 
You need to make due with what you have. Since you are running the FX1 either you need to look at the beachtek (which is the best option in my opinion) or you need to look at the converters and go crazy at radio shack.

I know neither is a great option for you, but when you compare your options versus the mics that are natively set up for your unit, well, you're pretty much F'd in the A.

The converters (1/8" to 1/4" and 1/4" to XLR) will add some noise, but this can be overcome. Buy the highest quality cables you can to reduce this from happening.

Your other option, and cheaper than the Beachtek is to get a mixer. You are not going to be able to afford a quality portable mixer, but for $50 on Ebay you should be able to pick up a Behringer that has phantom power (# of channels and features doesn't matter). With this option in place you can get a mic like the AT4073a or Sennheiser 416 and use the mixer to power it and then use the line out (with proper converters) to go ahead and run that into the camera. Complicated? Yeah. Adding noise? Yeah. Better than on camera or any of the microphone choices I listed above? Yeah.

If you want to get away as cheap as possible, well just go get an AT55 and a long 1/8" chord (ebay has them for about $5 for 50'). Will you get sound? Yes. Will you get good sound? No. Will you have more options than a camera mounted system a la Video Mic? Yes.

I hope this helps with your decision making, but in case I wasn't 100% clear here are your options from top to bottom in achieving best sound:
1. Get a beachtek & a quality microphone that runs off phantom power
2. Get a cheap mixer & a quality microphone that runs off phantom power
3. Get a 1/4" to XLR adapter, Get a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter and get a microphone that accepts battery power (AT815, AT815b, Rode NTG2, Sennheiser ME66/K6)
4. Get a mini jack microphone like that AT55 and a long chord so you can work it on a boom
5. Get a camera mountable solution like the Sennheiser or the Rode Video Mic.

There are your choices... I feel helpful and bored now.
 
I wouldnt go with a behringer or similar mixer: ive tried them and for the price they are DAMN noisy, the converter cable is a lot quieter and more convenient.
 
Thanks guys. I really would like to invest in a better mic, but between the Fx1 with all the accesories and a dual core amd...the isn't much of a budget for sound. I mainly work with comercials and music videos, but I really miss doing personal narrative projects (I also have a personal documentary planned) and it would be cool if I could record at least part of the dialogs oncamera (decentely). I guess the XLR to minijack adapter could be a good solution to get access to a better mic.
 
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